Lifecycle Environmental Footprints Assessment of Jointed Reinforced Internally Cured Concrete Pavements

Internally cured concrete using fine lightweight aggregate mitigates early-age cracking anddeformations. These benefits enhance the durability and service life of reinforced concrete pavementsexposed to corrosive environments and agents. Improved cement hydration through internal curing alsochanges concrete transport properties and influences the strength and serviceability characteristics ofconcrete elements, like pavements. Quantifying the contribution of internal curing to the sustainability andresilience of pavement infrastructure requires a lifecycle assessment (LCA) of benefits and impacts. Thisassessment is vital for developing environmental product declarations (EPD), a decision-making tool forinfrastructure planning, design, and construction. This paper uses a collection of studies to highlight theLCA of reinforced internally cured concrete pavement. Experimental works utilize simulation of servicelife using transport properties of concrete containing expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS) aggregates.Analytical approaches involve bottom-up estimates relying on standard practices in designing, constructing,maintaining, repairing, and removing reinforced concrete pavements. Results provide essential values fora comprehensive EPD for ESCS. Conclusions indicate how design and construction practices may adoptcharacteristics of internally cured concrete to optimize resource allocation and minimize environmentalfootprints. The balance between these outcomes is not always trivial and depends on climate factors. Thus,concluding remarks can guide stakeholders to enhance the resilience of the pavement system to mitigateclimate change locally and globally.

Keywords:

Sustainable Development , Resilient Infrastructure , Lifecycle Analysis , ConcretePavements , Pavements , Internal Curing , Lightweight Aggregates , Environmental Product Declarations